Stackable plastic garbage can with integral top

ABSTRACT

A stackable plastic garbage can is disclosed. The can comprises a main body portion having a recessed side portion and an integral plastic top hinged at the upper edge of the can and pivotable into the recessed side portions to facilitate stacking of the can and its integral top. The body portion also includes a plurality of axially extending inward projections at spaced intervals about the circumference of the can, to engage a similar can when the cans are stacked.

United States Patent Cantales Aug. 19, 1975 [54] STACKABLE PLASTIC GARBAGE CAN 3,273,747 9/1966 Kalz 220/95 NTEGRAL TOP ZZZZ'ESZ 351322 $3" 332/333 2, e1 e [76] Inventor: Joseph Cantales, 640 Pelham Rd., 3393342 7 19 3 Brown 206/520 New Rochelle, NY. 10803 3.412.889 11 1968 ElChOltZ.. 159 219 [22] F! d N 26 1973 3,655.1 ll 4/1972 Surerus 220/31 S [2]] Appl, No; 418,918 Primury Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Martin J. Spellman, Jr.; R' h' d A. J l 52 U.S. c1. 206/519; 220/306; 220/339 0g [51] Int. Cl. B65d 21/02 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 206/506, 507, 508, 515, A k bl l I b v d, l d Th 206/519, 520; 220/31 s, 60 R, 95, 85 CH 55 stac a e p astlc gar agecan 1s 1sc ose 6 can A 55 F 306409 339 comprlses a ma n body portlon having a recessed s1de portion and an integral plastic top hinged at the upper CM 121 :0222 il ci i oi ffi EZJZZZ TS 1:1 po 10 acii UNITED STATES PATENTS gral top. The body portion also includes a plurality of 1297323 3/1919 Frederick 220/85 CH axially extending inward projections at spaced interg l vals about the circumference of the can, to engage a uem er $220,603 11/1965 Bromleyw 206/506 slm'ldr can when the are Stacked 3,261 053 6/1966 Lesher 220/95 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures EFOOJOB 23 FIG. 3

STACKABLE PLASTIC GARBAGE CAN WITH INTEGRAL TOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to refuse and garbage cans and particularly to such cans which have integral covers and which may be readily stacked.

A familiar problem with garbage cans is the loss of covers which are necessary for purposes of health, rodent control, general cleanliness etc. One solution to this problem has been the use of can with integral covers such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,013,775, 1,284,133 and 1,333,051. These prior art patents generally disclose arrangements having conventional hinged metal covers and are typical of the cans currently in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,284,133 to A. Nusbaum, for example, discloses a concrete garbage receptacle having a hinged cover which is pivotable upwardly while U.S. Pat. No. 1,333,051 discloses a receptacle having two semispherical cover members which are mounted so that one member may rotate within the other to present an opening for refuse. U.S. Pat. No. 1,013,775 discloses a double can arrangement which is of interest for the showing of an upper frustoconical portion having a hinged circular cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As distinguished from the prior art discussed above, the present invention relates to a new and improved garbage can or receptacle. The invention comprises a can having a main body portion, preferably of frustoconical shape, and an integral cover. In the preferred embodiment, the can includes a recessed body portion into which the cover may be pivoted for purposes of stacking. The body portion also includes internal lips or projections which facilitate mating with another can during stacking.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved stackable garbage can.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved garbage can which is readily stackable and includes an integral cover.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a unique plastic garbage can having an integral cover and a body design which facilitates stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the unique receptacle comprising the present invention with the cover mated in the recess portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the receptacle or can shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side illustration of the invention in operation with two cans in a stacked relationship and partly in section; and

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view taken from the front top of the can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, the invention comprises a garbage can or receptacle having a main body portion 11 of frustoconical configuration and an integral cover 12. Both the body portion 11 and cover 12 as well as the can bottom 13 are preferably of plastic material. The body portion 11 includes a recessed body portion 14 on one side thereof into which the cover 12 may be pivoted. This arrangement eliminates the problem of lost covers since the cover 12 is integral with th body portion 11.

The cover 12 is integrally mounted or molded to a portion of the upper lip 16 on the body portion 11. Preferably this hinge portion 17 would be integrally molded with the can body 11 but it is conceivable that a separate hinge could be used. The cover 12 would generally fit over and engage the lip 16 to securely close the can. When it is desired to stack several cans 10 of the type disclosed herein, the cover 12 would be pivoted into the recessed body portion 14. A catch (not shown) or friction form fit could be used to retain the cover 12 in position. In one preferred embodiment, the cover 12 would be merely pivoted into the recess. The cover could also include a plurality of cutouts 18 around the periphery to facilitate making the cover bendable for purposes of nesting within the recessed portion 14. v

The body portion 11 further includes a plurality of inward projections 19 at spaced intervals about the circumference of the body portion. The projections extend axially along the internal body portion 11 except in the area of the recessed portion 14, and are designed to align the next stacked can to facilitate stacking. This design eliminates the problem of stacked cans becoming jammed or stuck together.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drwings, a pair of handles 21 may be provided for connection to the lip portion 22. These handles 21 are mounted at 23 and are designed to be pivotable about the lip portions 22 to hold the cover 12 in place and may be readily removed when the can is to be stacked.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative examples of the application. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the'invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

1 claim: v

l. A stackable garbage can comprising:

a main body portion of generally cylindrical configuration having-a concave recess portion on one side thereof and a bottom portion attached to the main body portion, and I an integrally mounted cover to enclose said can which is connected to and pivotable about the upper edge of the can into the concave recess portion of the body to facilitate stacking of the can when said cover is moved into the recess.

2. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the can is of plastic material and the body portion thereof includes a plurality of substantially axial 4. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the main body portion includes outwardly projecting lip sections and spaced locking members to facilitate attachment of handles thereto, and

wherein the concave recess portion includes means to hold the cover in place within the recess portion.

5. A stackable garbage -can in accordance with claim 1 further including:

a lip extending about the upper edge of the can,

a pair of detachable handles each on opposite sides of the can, said handles being mounted to the lip portion of the can and to the locking members.

6. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 further including:

substantially axial arrangement. 

1. A stackable garbage can comprising: a main body portion of generally cylindrical configuration having a concave recess portion on one side thereof and a bottom portion attached to the main body portion, and an integrally mounted cover to enclose said can which is connected to and pivotable about the upper edge of the can into the concave recess portion of the body to facilitate stacking of the can when said cover is moved into the recess.
 2. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the can is of plastic material and the body portion thereof includes a plurality of substantially axial projections extending inwardly along the entire interior surface thereof to facilitate stacking.
 3. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the cover is integrally molded to the upper edge of the body portion and said body portion includes a curved lip extending about the upper edge thereof, and said body portion being of an inverted frustoconical configuration.
 4. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the main body portion includes outwardly projecting lip sections and spaced locking members to facilitate attachment of handles thereto, and wherein the concave recess portion includes means to hold the cover in place within the recess portion.
 5. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 1 further including: a lip extending about the upper edge of the can, a pair of detachable handles each on opposite sides of the can, said handles being mounted to the lip portion of the can and to the locking members.
 6. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 further including: locking means to retain the cover within the recessed portion, and a hinge on the upper edge of the body portion bracing the cover mounted thereto.
 7. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the cover is a plastic material and includes a plurality of cutouts about the periphery thereof to permit bending of the cover into the recess in the main body portion.
 8. A stackable garbage can in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the plurality of projections are spaced from each other along the surface of the body portion in a substantially axial arrangement. 